The Daughters of the Republic of Texas - Baron de Bastrop Chapter

06/18/2026

We were so happy this month to welcome our newest member, Jenny at our last meeting until this fall.

Welcome, Jenny!

06/05/2026

This was written for the Masonic Lodge, but it can apply to any organization.

05/18/2026

05/11/2026

Lots of interest and fun at the General Land Office in Austin with the Baron de Bastrop chapter today. We saw land grants given posthumously to Wm. B. Travis, Jim Bowie, and David Crockett. Some signed by Sam Houston, who as you can imagine, made his signature bigger than anybody else's. Everything written by hand in beautiful, but sometimes hard to read, script. A lot of people put an identifying swirl under their name to discourage fraud. You might pretend to be them, but you most likely didn't know their swirl.

The sad part is, the GLO gets a lot of high school visitors who simply can't read script at all. 😢

The maps were gorgeous, all done by hand. The great short story author O. Henry worked for a time as a draftsman in the land office.

They looked up one of my ancestors, Joseph Merrill who was supposedly a doctor in Houston. His 640 acres were awarded in Harris County, but why did he pick land in Cherokee County? So many questions, so few answers.

04/10/2026

After today’s most interesting presentation by our own Elizabeth Pierce about John CC Hill (1828-1904), I wonder if the “CC” should stand for Charismatic and Confident! Well, the name is really “John Christopher Columbus Hill” and what a tale it was!
Thank you, Elizabeth!
Pictured with Vicky Rose, Chapter President, receiving a gorgeous flower arrangement from Elizabeth.

03/15/2026

New member inductions at our meeting on Friday, March 13, 2026!

We are so pleased to have Debi, Marcie, and Kristina, mother and daughters, honoring their ancestors and joining the Baron de Bastrop DRT Chapter! We look forward to making many happy memories with you in our chapter.
Thank you chapter officers Vicky Rose, Judy Grundy and Beth Pickens for leading the induction ceremony. Photo credit: Alyson Henry

02/18/2026

Historian George Benavides explained to the Baron de Bastrop Chapter of DRT he has two famous ancestors. He is descended from Jose Gregorio Esparza, an Alamo Tejano defender. Gregorio Esparaza had brother at the Alamo fighting for General Santa Anna. Following the battle, Santa Anna ordered the bodies of the defenders to be burned in three separate funeral pyres, refusing them Christian burials. But Gregorio’s brother approached the general and asked that his brother be given a Christian burial, which he agreed to. Gregorio burial site is historically thought to be near San Fernando Cathedral, but the exact location is unknown.

Another of George’s famous ancestors is Maria Ana Curbelo. Maria (Curbelo) Travieso sold cattle to the Spanish to assist in America’s fight for independence from England. Maria is considered by the Daughters of the America Revolution to have rendered service to the Patriots. She is Ancestor #: A215742.

(Tomas Antonio Bincente Alvarez Travieso, her son, is also a DAR Spanish Patriot, along with several sons-in-laws: Jacinto Delgado, Marcos Zepeda, Miguel de Gortari.)

02/18/2026

Author Gary L. Pinkerton will talk about – “Trammel’s Trace, The First Road to Texas from the North” Book signing to follow. Friday, March 13th, 2026, First National Bank of Bastrop, 489 State Hwy 71, Bastrop, TX

02/02/2026

Tejanos at the Alamo - Historian George Benavides will talk to the Baron de Bastrop Chapter of DRT in the upstairs meeting room of the First National Bank of Bastrop, 489 Hwy 71, Bastrop, TX at 11:00 a.m., Friday, February 13, 2026. Admission is free and all are invited.